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Fluoride Foes In Portland Submit Signatures Early

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 27: Pioneer Courthouse Square is shown in Portland, Oregon on November 27, 2010. A Somali teenager was arrested the previous night for attempting to set of a car bomb during Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the park. (file photo of downtown Portland / (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images))

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Opponents of Portland’s plan to add fluoride to the city’s water turned in signature petitions a day ahead of a deadline and with thousands of signatures to spare.

Clean Water Portland leader Kim Kaminski says the group submitted more than 43,000 signatures Thursday — far more than the 19,858 required to put the issue before voters.

Advocates wanted excess signatures in case some of the ones they collected are deemed invalid.

The City Council approved a plan last month to add fluoride by March 2014.

Dental experts say fluoride is a safe and effective way to fight cavities. Opponents of public fluoridation say it’s unsafe and violates an individual’s right to consent to medication.